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For the second year in a row, the Carthage chapter of Phi Alpha Delta (PAD), a national pre-law fraternity, has won four national awards.

Outstanding Pre-Law Chapter President (2nd Place): Braden Kundert ’21

Braden Kundert ’21 played a central role in revitalizing the Carthage PAD chapter, an achievement recognized in the chapter’s garnering four national awards last year (2020-21). Mr. Kundert initiated two major service undertakings, organizing PAD volunteers for the ELCA Outreach Center (which provides free legal assistance) and working to establish an immigration legal clinic at the Racine Interfaith Coalition. He also organized regular bimonthly meetings with local attorneys and law school students who met with Carthage PAD members to share their experience in the law. Mr. Kundert is now a student at the University of Wisconsin Law School.

Outstanding Pre-Law Secretary (2nd Place): Kelsey Spears ’21

Kelsey Spears ’21 served as secretary of PAD during the 2020-21 year and was instrumental in helping launch a series of new initiatives undertaken by the organization. In addition to meticulous attention to the duties of the secretary position, Ms. Spears helped to schedule, track, and coordinate Carthage PAD chapter members’ volunteer work with the ELCA Outreach Center. She is now working for a law firm in Illinois.

Outstanding Pre-Law Professional Program (3rd Place)

Carthage was recognized for its “Virtual Law School Fair,” which showcased law school representatives from area law schools. This event, which ordinarily would be hosted live at Carthage, was presented virtually due to COVID. Law school admissions officers from Marquette Law School, University of Wisconsin Law School, and the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law spoke with and fielded questions from Carthage students at the well-attended event.

Outstanding Pre-Law Chapter Advisor (2nd Place): Thomas Powers, Political Science Department

Professor Thomas Powers has been a pre-law advisor since 2001. He was named Carthage’s Pre-law Coordinator in 2020. Prof. Powers organizes several events at Carthage each year, to include a fall orientation event for first-year students, an event at Carthage featuring regional law school admissions officers, and events for juniors and seniors pertaining to the law school application process and LSAT preparation.

Last year (2020-21), Carthage PAD also won four national awards, to include Outstanding Chapter Award (3rd Place).

Congratulations to the officers and members of the Carthage Phi Alpha Delta chapter!

  • Ashley Castillo ’23, President
  • Kiah Martin ’23, Vice President
  • Kayle Czischki ’23, Secretary
  • Mariah Bader ’23, Treasurer
  • Ella Aleman ’24, Student Government Representative

See more award information

SPONSORING DEPARTMENT, OFFICE, OR ORGANIZATION:

Political Science Department

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Thomas Powers, tpowers@carthage.edu